Dispenser container



March 16, 1965 R. F. DOYLE DISPENSER CONTAINER Filed April 5, 1962 INVENTOR. RAYMOND E DOYLE United States Patent 3,173,537 DISPENSER CONTAHQER Raymond F. Doyle, San Francisco, Calif., assignor of one-half to (J. Dudley DeVelbiss, San Francisco, (Jalif. Filed Apr. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 185,294 4 Claims. (Cl. 206-57) This invention relates generally to apparatus and a method for dispensing sheet material, and more particularly to an apparatus utilized in combination with a paper box for retailing photosensitive paper which allows the single sheets to be dispensed one sheet at a time without exposing the remaining sheets in the box.

Both positive and negative photosensitive paper for use in standard copy machines is conventionally packaged in a light-proof wrapper, usually black in colors, to prevent the photosensitive paper from being prematurely exposed to light. The paper in its light-proof envelope or wrapper is retailed in a cardboard box for shipping and storing purposes. Ordinarily such boxes are adapted to open at one end (with a return flap) in order to permit the paper to be withdrawn one sheet at a time from within the inner light-proof envelope or wrapper. In this manner the box is intended to provide the dispensing means for the paper.

While it is obvious that the photosensitive papers must not be prematurely exposed to the light in order to be effective in the copy machine, the problem which heretofore existed with respect to selecting and sliding only one sheet of paper out of the inner envelope or wrapper has been annoying and costly. oftentimes the sheets, and especially the top two or three sheets stick together due to their natural affinity and as a result of the coatings applied. This problem is aggravated by the fact that the photosensitive paper is cut to size and stacked so that the ends and sides of the sheets are aligned. Frequently in the effort to separate and select a single sheet, other sheets were prematurely exposed so that the full photosensitivity of the paper was lost for use in the copy machine. This has resulted in a great deal of unnecessary waste and such paper is relatively expensive.

Therefore, it is an important object of the present invention to provide apparatus and a method for selecting and dispensing photosensitive paper one sheet at a time without inadvertently exposing other sheets in the package.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and a method for dispensing photosensitive paper wherein the top sheet is easily and readily accessible for selection and to be dispensed from a box containing a stack of such sheets without removing or exposing other sheets.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which is adaptable for use with pre-existing boxes for dispensing sheets of paper which are arranged in the box in stacked relation, in such manner that only the top sheet thereof is selected and dispensed from the box.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which is easily and quickly insertable into, and removable from a box containing paper in stacked relation, to permit the paper to be dispensed from the box very rapidly, one sheet at a time, the apparatus thus being adapted for use with a great number of such boxes, and particularly boxes containing photosensitive sheets.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, economy and ease of assembly and disassembly, also such further objects, advantages and ca- 3,173,537 Patented Mar. 16, 1965 pabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and invention described herein.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the same is merely illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modificataion and change and comprehends other details of construction without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a box embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section of a box taken along the line IIII of FIGURE 1;

FEGURE 3 is a schematic side elevation, with a protective wrapper in section, showing the sheets in fanned position.

Referring to the drawing in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the several views, and more specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is shown a standard box of rectangular cross-section and relatively fiat, normally used to store and dispense photosensitive paper. The box 10 has a cover with a top 11, side panels 13o, a rear panel 14a and a front panel 150. It also has a bottom section with a bottom 12, side panels 1312, a rear panel 14b and a front panel 15b. The cover and bottom nest in the usual manner and since the side panels 13a and 13b, as well as the other panels are approximately the same depth, the nesting is complete and the bottom edges of the cover, side and rear panels are sealed in the usual manner by paper tape on the outer layer of paper of the cover (not shown). Against the front panel 15a of the cover, the side panels 13a have a vertical cut 16 which extends completely to the top 11. The top 11 is transversely scored with a scoring line 17 which runs between the tops of the cuts 16. By lifting the front panel 15:: upwardly against the scoring 17 the front portion of the cover opens to permit access to the contents of the box it as shown in FIGURE 1. The front cover portion is movable in this manner between the open position and the closed position. To make the access easier in the open position, the juncture of the bottom front panel 15b with the side panels 13b is cut, so that the front panel 1517 can be moved from the vertical position when the movable front cover portion is raised. The wrapper 19 is normally a wide mouth sack or envelope which is deeper than the length of the paper. When the envelope or sack is opened there is enough overhang in front to provide access to the paper within the wrapper so as to minimize the chance of exposure when removing the sheets. The open end of the wraper 19 is placed in the box 1% adjacent the dispensing end of the box.

The top ll of the box it has a pair of spaced holes 23 and 24 and the double rear wall 14a and 1-61; has holes 25 and 26 in longitudinal alignment therewith, at the juncture of the rear wall and the bottom 12.

A U-shaped member 20, which may be of a metal is bent to the shape with two parallel legs 21 and 22 extending in the same plane from the bottom portion thereof. The contents of the box are removed as a unit, and if the sheets are photosensitive the protecting wrapper 19 is not disturbed. The legs 21 and 22 are inserted into the pair of holes 23 and 24 in the top 11. The U-shaped member 26 is pushed in an angular direction through the holes 23 and 24 into the interior of the box until the legs 21 and 22 contact the pair of holes ZS'jand 26' and engage therei'ni The holes 23 and 24 inv the top 11 of the box may beslanted rearwardly,

10, as seen in; FIGURE 2,. Theholes 23, 24, 25nd- 26 should be of; such size to allow the Ukshaped mem: ber; 20 -to be seated firmly with said holes. The entry of the, U-shapedmember; ztl through the holes 24 and 26 is limited by the cross-bar connecting thelegs 21- and;

22 andthereurvature-atthe juncture. V

The, exact length: of the-legs 21 and 22, of the member ZO-must be equal to the straightline distance betweenthe The holes 23 and 24' are positioned a' It will be understood that the holes 23 and 24, 25 and 26 may be placed in the boxdlt) during the forming or manufacture of the box 10 so that it is received by the user with the necessary holes already included therein. However, it will be obvious that it is a very easy matter to adapt pro-existing boxes which do not have the prepunched holes positioned therein, for use with the present invention merely by measuring the proper distances and punching the required holes in the box 10 by means of any suitable tool.

' When the entire. stack 18 of photosensitive paper in one box l lthasbeen useithe U-shaped member ZO'may be 1 withdrawn from the holes 23', 24," 25 andzdby grasping outside ofholes 23- and 24 in the top, and holes 25 and 2r6 inthe rear end Wall, takinginto account any curvature at the junction of the legs with the cross-bar in, the

U-shaped member 20. This distance is of, importance.

to allow the member 29 to be fully seated within the holes, to effectively brace the member within the box- 10, and toinsure that the tips of the legs 21 and 22 will not, extend unduly beyondtheoutside of the lower edge of the-endf14. Whenthe stack of fanned. paper 1.8 is fully seated against. the member 20, as shown in FIGURE 2, it is apparentthat the engagement of the paper againstthe member 20' will not inadvertently become dislodged.-

As stated-earlier, the packaged stack of photosensitive paper 18' isremoved from the, box It) to: allow the insertion of the U-shapedmember 20- through the holes 23.

and 24 and thence into holes 25 and 26'. Prior to reinsertion of the stack 18 into the'box lmthe stack 18 inits protective Wrapper 19 isfiexed or fanned inmuch the same manner; as a deck of cards, by grasping the ends of the stack 18 and bending it about its transverse axis. This actionhas-thev effect of rearranging the sheets laterallyor steppingthe individual sheets, so that one end of the stack 13- wi1l be stepped from bottom to top, or inclined upwardly, and-the other end of the stack will be just the reverse, i.e., stepped from top' to bottom, or

inclined downwardly, as illustrated in FIGURE 3; The

end of the stack 18- which is inclined upwardlyis inserted v into the open or dispensing end of the box 10 and is member having; legs, said legs being removably insertable allowed to drop toward the rear of the box until the inclined end; of the stack 18comes into contact with and assumes the same angularity of the U-shaped member 20.

The box and its contents'arethen preferably taped on 1 the rear end 14 to firmly press the fanned sheets against the Urshaped member 20. In this position, the stack 1-8 will retain the inclined relation of the end thereof in contact Withthe U-shaped'member'20, and comethe U-shaped member 20 by=thecross-bar and pulling the U-shaped member out. The U-shaped member 20 may be reused indefinitely by positioning -it.in other boxes in'the same manner as heretofore described.

t will. beunderstood that' the size or depth of the box 10- is-immaterial to thepractice of the present-invention, but that the holes 23, 24, 25 'and' 26 are placed in the box it according to-the specific size of the box toinsurethat the u-shaped member 20 when fully inserted and anchored in theholes provided in the rear panels of the box, will accurately position andhold the sheets for rapid selection. The optimum angle has been found to be approximately 30 I claim:

1. A dispenser container for the selection of individual sheetsof paper, in combination a box enclosing a stack of-individual sheets of; paper, saidbox being a conventional box of substantially the- ,same linear dimensions as the sheetsand having a dispensing openingat one end only, perforations in thetop end'of said boxadjacent the end opposite to theend. opening,said stack of individualsheets of paper: beingfannedfor use so that the ends thereof are in stepped angular relation with the-forward end'extending angularly rearward, a U-shaped member temporarily positioned withinjsaid box, said U-shaped angularly through. said perforationsin the top into the interior of said box adjacent the end opposite to the dispensing opening engaging the inner end of-said-fanned stack to maintain the stepped relation of 'said sheets.

2. The dispenser. container set forth in claim 1 in whichthe legs of said U-shapedmember. extend-into the interior of said box at an inclination, of approximately 30 relative. to the plane of the top of said box with the ends ofsaid legs" engaging the-interior juncture of thebottom and theendwall of. said box: opposite said dispensing opening: V

- 3-. A dispenser, container" for: dispensing individual '7 sheets of paper and-,thelike, in combination a rectanguquently the forwardjend of the stack 18 will also'retain Y I the downwardly inclined relation. It,wi1l be apparent from FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 3 that the individual sheets in the stack. 18 have the leading edges thereof extending a shortdistancebeyond the next'lower sheet;

that is, the top sheet extends forwardly a short distance from the second sheet, and so on'down through'the stack.

Therefore, when it is desired to remove only one sheet from the box 10, the person desiring the'sheet merely extends his fingers into the open mouth of the wrapper 7 19 until his fingers come into contact'with the top zsheet in the stack 18. Due to the factthat the top sheet 7 extends forwardly from the second'sheet, therebyleav ing the second sheet in place as the new top sheetof the 5 e maintain the Stepped relation of Saidslmets.v

stack 18. The top sheet is then pulled outwardly and Y removed from the wrapper 19, through the front or disremaining sh'eets. This precise positioning of the stacked paper is maintained to the last sheet, due to the angularity-of the U-shaped member; and the wedging of the l stack. in fannedrelation against vitl'in the container.

sheets and having its 7 of said box;

lar relatively flat box having a dispensing opening at one end1only enclosing'individual sheets of: paper; in, stacked form, said box being a standardibox having substantially the same linealdimensionsv as 'said'sheets, said dispensing opening'being: closed by a hinged closure, a pair; ofis'paced perforations positioned in; the top of said' box adjacent;

the end opposite to the dispensing opening, a second'pair of: spaced perforations positioned'in the interior? juncture .of' the bottom andclosed end wallEthereof: inkregistry 'with said firsttpair, Ia U shaped member; temporarily positioned in said box, said U-shaped: member, having legs, said legs being j rernovably insertable: angularly through; theperforations in the top ofjs'aid box into the interior thereof and engaging, in the. said 'second' pair of'perforations engaging the inner-end, of said stack to 4. The dispenser'containerfof claim '3. in which the individual sheetsiare containedinia pliable. envelope, said envelope being substantiallyf'longer. than said fanned open end'at the dispensing end 1 (References. on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 1905 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES German application, printed Feb. 16, 1956, $28,157 (Kl. 33c, 12).

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, GEORGE O. RALSTON,

Examiners. 

1. A DISPENSER CONTAINER FOR THE SELECTION OF INDIVIDUAL SHEETS OF PAPER, IN COMBINATION A BOX ENCLOSING A STACK OF INDIVIDUAL SHEETS OF PAPER, SAID BOX BEING A CONVENTIONAL BOX OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME LINEAR DIMENSIONS AS THE SHEETS AND HAVING A DISPENSING OPENING AT ONE END ONLY, PERFORATIONS IN THE TOP END OF SAID BOX ADJACENT THE END OPPOSITE TO THE END OPENING, SAID STACK OF INDIVIDUAL SHEETS OF PAPER BEING FANNED FOR USE SO THAT THE ENDS THEREOF ARE IN STEPPED ANGULAR RELATION WITH THE FORWARD END EXTENDING ANGULARLY REAREARD, A U-SHAPED MEMBER TEMPORARILY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID BOX, SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING LEGS, SAID LEGS BEING REMOVABLY INSERTABLE ANGULARLY THROUGH SAID PERFORATIONS IN THE TOP INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID BOX ADJACENT THE END OPPOSITE TO THE DISPENSING OPENING ENGAGING THE INNER END OF SAID FANNED STACK TO MAINTAIN THE STEPPED RELATION OF SAID SHEETS. 